Press Statement dated 18 October 2018
Today, Catholic bishops have announced that they are helping sick miners who are about to sue the coal mining for failing to protect them from black lung disease.
Pneumoconiosis, also called black lung disease, is a preventable but incurable disease that is contracted in coal mines through inadequate protection from coal dust.
“For decades, coal mining companies allowed their workers to be exposed to unsafe levels of coal dust. The mines need to take both ethical and legal responsibility for the sick miners.” Says Bishop Gabuza.
South Africa is one of the countries with highest prevalence rate on black lung disease.
“The fact that South Africa has hundreds of sick miners from coal industry is an indictment on corporate greed in the mining sector and its insistence on profit over the dignity of mine workers.” Says Bishop Gabuza.
He added that this situation is also “an indictment on the coal-based economy in South Africa. The human cost of coal-based economy should remind our country of the urgent need to transition to clean energy.”
Richard Spoor Attorney is the one preparing the class action on behalf of the sick miners. Richard Spoor was one of the lawyers involved in the Silicosis case which resulted in R5 billion settlement.
The sick miners are from Limpopo, Eastern Cape, Free State, Mpumalanga and Kwazulu Natal. “Most of the miners who become sick were sent home with little or no compensation after working in mines that have generated millions of Rands for their shareholders.” Says Bishop Gabuza.
Ndwamato Ratshikakale is one of the sick who will be involved as an applicant in the class action. He worked in Tshikondeni coal mine in Limpopo from 22 years. He was retrenched after contracting occupational illness. He received no compensation for his illness. He tries to survive on subsistence farming. He is one of the sick miners seeking restoration of justice.
“I have tried to get work for the last 20 years but my health has not allowed me to,’ he said “My family tries to survive through subsistence farming. Recently, the doctors have however told me to stop because of exposure of dust. I am not alone who is sick. There are hundreds of us. The coal mines should be held accountable for failing to prevent and respond to our lung disease.’
Ndou Tshifhwa Constance, the Widow of Pfuluwani Maulta Noel, is 51 years old and lives in Limpopo. Her husband worked on the mines for more than ten years. He died from black lung disease. He was retrenched due to his medical condition but never received any compensation.
“I have four kids. Now I struggle to survive through temporary jobs. I hope that we win the case against the coal mines so that I can get enough money to pay for further education for my children.”
SACBC Justice and Peace Commission hopes that the legal action will restore justice and dignity to hundreds of miners who contracted black lung disease while working in South Africa’s coal mines.
Issued by Bishop Abel Gabuza, Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) Justice and Peace Commission